Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts Delaware State Over Norfolk State in Comeback Victory

Photo: Pexels

The Delaware State University football team earned its fifth win of the season on Saturday with a thrilling 36-33 comeback victory over the Norfolk State Spartans. For the second straight year, this matchup was held at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Eagles, because the Hornets’ head coach, DeSean Jackson, and the Spartans’ head coach, Michael Vick,  both played for the Birds.

View this post on Instagram

Related:

Delaware State capitalizes on Towson’s miscues, holds on for 33-28 win

Game Recap:

Delaware State trails by ten at the end of the first quarter.

In the first quarter, it was all Norfolk State, as they outgained the Hornets in yards with 78, and DSU had 0. Delaware State’s second drive of the game netted them a negative 17 yards.

The Spartans turned those 78 yards into points as they earned three points on a 32-yard field goal and then scored a touchdown on Jalyn Daniels ‘ eight-yard run to give his team a 10-0 edge.

DSU down seven at the end of the first half.

Things only got worse for the Hornets in the early minutes of the second quarter as Norfolk State’s second drive during the period started at Delaware State’s 22nd yard line. DSU’s offense turned the ball over on downs, which is why the Spartans had great field position.

Norfolk State didn’t waste that advantage as the team went 22 yards in five plays to end with quarterback Da’Jean Golmond finding his wide receiver Kam’ryn Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown to push their team lead to 17-0 with 8:13 left in the first half.

After giving the ball away on a fumble, the Hornets’ next possession gained 79 yards in six plays, ending with senior quarterback Marqui Adams finding his wideout Jaylin Terzado for a 33-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to ten points (17-7) with 2:09 left in the second quarter.

The tide was turning for DSU as, on the kickoff after the touchdown, Norfolk fumbled the ball, and sophomore wideout Ezekiel Orozco recovered the ball at the Spartans ‘ 21-yard line.

Delaware State turned that into three points when senior kicker Patrick Fisher-Butler booted a 35-yard field goal to cut the lead to seven (17-10) at halftime.

The Hornets trail by 14 at the end of the third quarter

The Spartans started the second half horribly by ending their first drive of the period with an interception.  Delaware State didn’t capitalize on the turnover; instead, they were driven backwards as they gained negative 16 yards in four plays.

Norfolk State’s next possession was set up nicely, and they used it to their advantage as they gained 34 yards in five plays to end with their quarterback, Da’Jean Golmond, finding his wide receiver Jason Wonodi for the 23-yard touchdown catch to put their team up 24-10 with 9:18 left in the third.

DSU answered back quickly by cruising 46 yards in four plays to end with their quarterback Marqui Adams throwing a deep dart to his senior wideout Terrence Rone for the 40-yard touchdown to cut the lead to eight points (24-16).

But on the two-point try, the Spartans returned it for two to grow their edge to 26-16 with 7:41 remaining in the third.

Norfolk was thriving now, as on their next possession, they marched 73 yards in six plays to end with running back Ravon Moore scampering for three yards for the touchdown to put his team up 17 points (33-16).

The last score of the third would come from the foot of Patrick Fisher-Butler as he booted through a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14 (33-19).

Delaware State takes home a 36-33 win!

The fourth quarter was all the Hornets as they scored 17 unanswered points, and the defense tightened up, allowing zero points. DSU’s defense forced Norfolk State to punt twice and snagged an interception and a fumble.

The first drive in the final quarter for Delaware State saw them go 67 yards in five plays to end with quarterback Marqui Adams finding his senior tight end Jaron Kelley for the five-yard touchdown to close the gap to seven points, 33-26, with 13:28 left in the fourth.

DSU’s defense came up a level in the fourth as they slammed the door on the Spartans’ drive after five plays, with the Hornets’ senior Safety Phillip Dunnam intercepting Golmond’s pass and taking it to his team’s 40 yard line.

The Hornets offense turned that turnover into points, as the team went 60 yards in six plays to end with finding his wideout senior Kyree Benton for the 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 33 with 7:47 left in the game.

Fast forward to Norfolk’s last drive of the game as the ball was with 1:26 left and primed to win it, but Delaware State’s defense had a different plan as they had a sack and then recovered a fumble at the Spartans’ 15-yard line with 57 seconds left.

The offense didn’t waste the turnover as, with seconds left on the clock, freshman kicker Matteo Braclenti nailed a 35-yard field goal to complete a 17-point comeback to win 36-33.